As the Church, we want to be prepared to reach out and respond to immediate needs whether that need is for spiritual, emotional, or tangible support such as basic crisis intervention. This is an opportunity for us to lean into Jesus and be wise about how-to best love people who may become sick, overcome by fear, and uncertain about the future. Luke 12:35 “Be dressed and ready for service and keep your lamps burning..”
- Talk to people. Encourage, calm, and pray with them.
- Direct people who have no community support to our website for help or be their liaison and contact your campus pastor or our Director of Care, Christine, at cmjoen@christchurchil.org
- Update your contact information through MyChristChurch
- If you know someone who is not able to easily stay connected through emails, Facebook, and our website, please feel free to take it upon yourself to keep them informed, or let us know how best we can keep them connected by calling Brocki in the church office at 847-234-1001.
- Opt into Christ Church Prayer Chain.
Serve in the community
Blood Drive
Christ Church Vernon Hills is partnering with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive on Tuesday, June 2 and Friday, June 26.
Christ Church Vernon Hills (480 E Ring Drive Rd.)
Please note this event is run by the American Red Cross and all safety precautions are taken.
North Chicago Community Partners
NCCP is continuing to serve students and teachers in North Chicago.
Volunteers are needed to:
- Safely assemble and prep snack and learn kits from home
- Write encouraging notes to teachers and students
- Donate items. Download a list here.
A Safe place
During the coronavirus outbreak, A Safe Place is providing modified services to domestic violence survivors, including a 24/7 crisis line, emergency shelter, counseling, orders of protection and visitation center. They are looking for volunteers to help distribute food and other donations to clients. If interested, contact Damaris Lorta via email at dlorta@asafeplaceforhelp.org, or phone: 847.731.7165, x109.
Seniors
People are needed to write encouraging notes to seniors, speak to them on the phone through the “Phone a Friend” Program, and more at Brookdale Senior Living. Contact Sandy Sieber at ssieber@christchurchil.org for more information.
Northern Illinois Food Bank – North Chicago
Help with the drive up model mobile food distributions. 6-8 volunteers will help load cars with pre-packaged food. We will have gloves but volunteers will be recommended to bring their own face masks.
Food Distribution:
Thursdays from 2:30-5:00 p.m. at the parking lot across the street from Emmanuel Faith Bible Christian Church, 1840 Lincoln St, North Chicago, IL 60064.
Northern Illinois Food Bank – Highwood
Northern Illinois Food Bank safely distributes food and diapers in Highwood. During this crisis, more people than ever will need assistance to help feed their families.
Food Distribution:
Fridays from 3:00-5:30 p.m. in Highwood.
PADS LAKE COUNTY
All PADS homeless housing clients are now receiving individual accommodations in hotels until May 31. If you are interested in donating some needed supplies during covid-19 directly to PADS, here are some basic household and food supplies that they are requesting. All In-kind donations are accepted at the PADS Day Resource Center (1800 Grand Ave., Waukegan, IL 60085) during office hours: Monday – Friday, 8AM – 4PM. Feel free to call PADS at 847-689-4357 with any questions.
Food Donations for Waukegan Residents
Please bring food donations from the shopping list below to Christian Neighbors Church (222 N County St. Unit C, Waukegan, IL) between 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Volunteers will unload the groceries for you to limit contact. Members of the 12 Mosaic Waukegan churches will be hand delivering food boxes to those in greatest need in the community. Please contact Luke McFadden at luke@christianneighbors.church with any questions.
Adopt a Family
Highwood is Chicagoland’s 16th largest Hispanic population with an average household of 5 and an income of $20,000 a year under the best of circumstances. Sadly, due to the life changing impact of COVID 19, over 52% of this group have lost their job.
As a result, Christ Church’s Rev. 7:9 Ministry is joining Nuestro Center, a division of Lake County Family Services, and other community groups to immediately address these urgent needs and “adopt” 10 families over the course of 8 weeks.
Volunteers will be connected to a family and be e-mailed their weekly grocery list on Monday afternoon with grocery drop offs scheduled on Thursday. For more information please contact Ben Torres, the Pastor of our Rev. 7:9 ministry at btorres@christchurchil.org
Write Encouraging Notes to Front Line Workers
In our community, many are working tirelessly to save lives, protect our community and provide necessary resources. They are spending days, nights, and weekends away from their families as they respond to COVID-19. A few simple words of encouragement can help to lift spirits and keep everyone energized and focused while helping our community get through this challenging time.
To participate, design a card, take a picture, and tag the Lake County Health Department or Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Use the #UnitedAgainstCOVID #WeAreInThisTogether hashtags. For those without social media, pictures can be emailed to COVID19@lakecountyil.gov.
ELDER CARE
ElderCARE is a non-profit organization that helps adults ages 65+ remain as healthy and independent as possible. Volunteers are needed to make calls to seniors to ease the pain of isolation. If you are interested contact Rev. Jackie Lynn, Executive Director of ElderCare, at 847-406-4683 or info@eldercarelakecounty.org
SHIELDS TOWNSHIP FOOD PANTRY
Shields Township has some immediate needs for donations and they are also a great source of food for families in need. People wishing to make a donation should contact the Township at 847-234-0802 to schedule a drop off time.
Lambs Farm
At Lambs Farm, we currently need PPE (personal protective equipment) supplies for our staff to use while caring for participants. These include gloves, goggles, gowns, alcohol, thermometers. Items can be donated at Lambs Farm (14245 Rockland Road Libertyville, IL 60048). Please contact Vicky Raier or Katie Bouwens at 847-362-4636.
Volunteer for the Lake County Medical Reserve Corps
The Lake County Medical Reserve Corps is a volunteer group that works supports the increased demands of the healthcare system in the event of a major health emergency. Volunteer by emailing HLHealthEM@lakecountyil.gov or calling 847-377-8186.
Love INC Lake County Southwest
Seeking volunteers during Covid-19 to help with office work virtually. General office support and specifically, bookkeeping. Knowledge of QuickBooksand/or Salesforce. Comfortable with CRM. This volunteer opportunity is virtual and volunteers can work remotely. Please contact Kristen “Moxie” Johnson at 847-691-1266 if interested.
Meals on Wheels
There is an urgent need for drivers to pick up and deliver noon-time meals to homebound seniors. Meals on Wheels provides seniors who are homebound and unable to prepare their own food due to physical or mental difficulties with a nutritious lunch. Please contact Marla Harris from Meals on Wheels-Catholic Charities at 847-546-5733 if interested.
Homemade Masks during Covid-19
Lake County Housing Authority is facilitating the collection and distribution of homemade masks to help contain the spread of COVID-19. A collection bin is located at 33928 N. Rte. 45, Grayslake, IL 60030. Please follow instructions appropriate to the guidance of the CDC. Download instructions for details on how to create a DIY face covering.
Vernon Area Township
Vernon Area Township is requesting help with their food pantry. Donations of non-perishable items are accepted 24/7, they can be left in a cart placed outside the main entrance to the Administrative Building located at 3050 N. Main St. in Buffalo Grove. Refrigerated, frozen and perishable items are accepted Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Please call Vernon Area Township at 847-634-4600 for more information.
Sign up to be on call to serve
As needs begin to come in, you can sign up to be on call to serve.